The council and the police are rolling out a £1.5 million upgrade to Aberdeen’s CCTV network to help tackle crime in the city.
Under the project, Aberdeen City Council’s cameras and those belonging to the police will be integrated into a single system.
The combined 600 cameras will be monitored and controlled at the council’s Marischal College headquarters, allowing staff to keep track of traffic and enhance public safety and security.
While some of the devices will be kept as they are, others will be replaced or upgraded or their position changed.
The council published a tender for the contract to undertake the scheme yesterday, and it is hoped work will begin later this year.
Midstocket and Rosemount councillor, Bill Cormie, has previously called for the city’s CCTV network to be improved and last night welcomed the project.
Mr Cormie said: “CCTV is a cost-effective way of helping to identify and prevent crime, no question about it.
“With the amount of money spent on it, it makes sense for the council and the police to come together and for it to be run from the same control room.
“I think it will improve people’s quality of life, and be of benefit to everybody in Aberdeen.”
Hazlehead, Queen’s Cross and Countesswells representative, Martin Greig, described the initiative as “important and long-awaited”.
He added: “The proposal to combine CCTV systems is very welcome and long overdue.
“I know the design of the new system has taken a great deal of effort.
“It makes absolute sense for these organisations to work together as closely as possible.
“There is clearly a shared interest in improving public safety across our city.”
Liam Kerr, the Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary, said: “CCTV can play a crucial role in fighting crime and footage frequently helps to secure convictions in court.
“I am fully supportive of moves to integrate the police and council systems. Frankly, it should have happened some time ago.
“This should help our police force crack down on unlawful behaviour and ultimately make our streets more safe.”
The council is also considering ways of improving communication between the two bodies when incidents are spotted on CCTV.
A spokeswoman added: “A lot of the current technology is analogue, and we’re looking to move to digital.”
A contract seeking tenders for the work says that the scheme will involve “retention, replacement, upgrade or removal of all of these cameras following a detailed assessment of each camera location to be undertaken by the successful bidder”.
